Iodine in Treatment of hyperthyroidism. – “Compound solution of iodine was used by Thomas and Rienhoff in the treatment of thirty cases of exophthalmic goiter. After the patients had received this solution for three or five days, the restlessness and nervousness became less marked, the tremor diminished and in many the skin was less flushed. In most cases the maximum results were obtained in from five to fourteen days. In three cases the maximum result was not obtained until between the twenty-first and twenty-fifth day.
The basal metabolic rate decreased in all of the cases, varying from II to 72 per cent., an average fall of 34 per cent. In 50 per cent. of the cases, the rate was reduced to normal. In 33 per cent. of the cases the basal metabolic rate was reduced to below 40 per cent. above normal, and in 6 per cent. the reduction was so slight that rest in bed alone might account for it In most instances when the patients were operated on their basal metabolic rate was not more plus 30 per cent.” J.A.M.A.
Nothing new, but nevertheless of interest to homoeopaths and showing that the crude drug has its place as well as the potency. Homoeopaths must fit the potency to the plane of the disease, as Kent so wisely taught. Broadly considered, the more crude the pathology, the cruder the drug, though to be sure, exceptions are numerous.
Homoeopathy in India. – Under the leadership of Dr. Ajit Sankar De. of 8 Victoria Road, P.O. Barnagore, Calcutta, India, a society,” The Homoeopathy Serving Society,” has been formed.
This organization is dedicated to the welfare of homoeopathy and will endeavor to combat the commercialism and exploitation to which homoeopathy is subjected and from which it has suffered grievously, at the hands of unqualified, self-appointed practitioners in India.
Inasmuch as homoeopathy is not recognized by the Government in India, advantage has been taken of this important fact to the great detriment of the true followers of Hahnemann. Among the several laudable objects of this new society we find the important one ” to attempt to persuade the India Government to give recognition to homoeopathy.” The society will also endeavor to abolish the practice of adulteration of homoeopathic medicines by alleged homoeopathic pharmacists of Calcutta.
Occupational Disease Among Zinc Workers. – “In a small galvanizing plant McCord and Friedlander have detected widespread gastro-intestinal conditions, varying from gastro-enteritis, in the younger workers, to well established gastric and duodenal ulcers among workers employed for a long time. Twelve out of fifteen workers employed for a long time. Twelve out of fifteen workers employed seven years or longer have presented severe gastro-intestinal lesions. In a second plant, in which all employees are new at this work (less than six years) and in which the general work conditions are better and exposure to trade process fumes is much less, no cases of this gastro-intestinal disease have been found.” – J.A.M.A.
The production by zinc of gastric and duodenal ulcers is on importance, since, homoeopathically considered, Zincum has not been looked upon as a likely remedy in either of these conditions Arg. nitr, Kali bichr. and Phosphorus have more usually been considered as “ulcer” remedies. However, the pathogenesis of Zincum is rich in gastric and intestinal symptoms and it is easy to conceive that a given totality might call for this remedy.
Silver Chloride and Gastric Ulcers. – ” cut off parts of the mucous membrane of the stomach in dogs. He then – following Saxls suggestion – administered silver chloride to some of them, and noted a better healing tendency than in the control.” J.A.M.A.
Silver Chloride and Gastric Ulcers-“Saxl and Kelen treat gastric and duodenal ulcers by administration of a 2 per cent. solution of colloidal silver chloride. about 2-4 cc. of it is taken in half of glass of water before breakfast and before retiring. An alkali must not be taken immediately before or after the silver chloride, since it may dissolve it and cause argyria”-J.A.M.A.
Also of interest,although not exactly new, to homoeopaths; the homoeopathicity of silver chloride is no doubt similar to that of silver nitrate; the chloride has, however,received a fragmentary proving only, be Lembke. See Allens Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica.
Veratrum Viride in Auricular Fibrillation-“Wedd and Drury summarize their clinical and experimental observations as follows: Alcoholic solutions of veratrum viride, when given to patients suffering from auricular fibrillation, produce slowing of both the auricular and ventricular rates of beating and a fall in blood pressure. These circulatory changes are independent of general toxic effects. Veratrum viride has, in addition to the vagal action already observed, a direct action, similar to quinidine, on the auricular muscle of the dog.
This direct action will, on the circus movement theory of auricular fibrillation, tend to show, and the vagal stimulation tend to enhance, the rate of the auricular oscillations. The relative preponderance of these two actions will determine the resultant auricular rate when the drug is administered to patients suffering from auricular fibrillation. The slowing of the ventricular rate by veratrum given orally occurs much earlier than that following digitalis bodies. However, as a therapeutic agent, veratrum is somewhat handicapped by uncertainty and irregularity of action. It may be useful in cases in which simultaneous slowing of ventricular rate and lowering of blood pressure is desired.”-J.A.M.A.
The knowledge is of interest and may be of some practical use to homoeopathic prescribers. If Veratrum viride lowers the blood pressure as above stated, conversely, it may be of value in some of our cases of lowered pressure, other symptoms agreeing.
Pharmacology of Garlic-“Sunzeri injected aqueous and alcoholic extracts from Allium sativum into dogs. A rapid drop in the blood pressure, due to stimulation of the vagus, followed. Later on, the blood pressure was lowered by an action on the blood vessels.”-J.A.M.A.
This observation should be of special interest to Italians, since to judge by odors prevalent in our New York Italian quarters garlic plays a major role in the dietary of these temperamental people. However, as in the case of Veratrum viride, Allium sativum materia medica throws little light upon the subject, though in Allens Encyclopedia, Vol.I, page 162, under GENERALITIES we read: “General lassitude, especially in the lower limbs, to such a degree that he dreads having to go two or three steps upstairs. Morning lassitude. . . . . Relaxation of the muscles. Sense of oppression; weakness,” Such weakness as herewith described is commonly associated with a lowered bloodpressure.
Mercurial Poisoning From Dental Fillings-“Flury concludes that mercury poisoning was possible with the old-fashioned amalgams, especially of copper, but not with the complex mixtures which are being used at present. He believes that about I mg. of mercury contained in a filling could yield only fractions of a milligram if resorbed within five to ten years. Stock, who has suffered together with his collaborators from chronic mercury poisoning due to the mere presence of mercury in his laboratory, which was not diagnosed until recently, points out that far smaller amounts of mercury-some hundredths of a milligram daily-may cause chronic poisoning in a few years. Its symptom are slight headaches, mental fatigue, impaired memory, irritability, restlessness, and chronic colds. He has learned recently about fifty similar cases among chemists and physicists.”-J.A.M.A.
We have no desire to arouse the old amalgam fillings war, but the above extract will be of interest to many readers. Perhaps many teeth have been unceremoniously yanked out whose filling have not been altogether guilty.
Local Application of Chamomile-“Arnold produced inflammation of the skin with mustard oil, light and tuberculin. These reactions could be inhibited by local application of an infusion of 5 gm. of chamomile flowers in 100 gm. of water. The ethereal oils seem to be the active substance.”-J.A.M.A.
Many a screaming baby with an intertrigo of fiery hue and a temper sufficiently vicious to make a saint swear has been relieved by Chamomile, internally given. Its outward application may be roughly homoeopathic; anyway, Arnolds observations are of interest. Our O.S. friends certainly display a remarkable ingenuity in planning their experiments and the dear little chamomile has been elevated to a position of scientific importance.
Treatment of Pernicious Anemia-“Bing expresses surprise the wider use is not made of systematic administration of hydro- chloric acid in treatment of pernicious anemia, as. Bie has been advocating for several years. In four of thirteen patients given once or twice a day 5 to 8 cc. of dilute hydrochloric acid, the improvement was remarkable and has persisted to date.
Two others improved under parenteral protein therapy (milk) but not to such an extent as under the acid substitution treatment-” J.A.M.A This observation of the Danish physician, Bing, commands attention; achlorohydria is a diagnostic symptom of pernicious anaemia and the administration of small amounts of dilute hydrochloric acid seems logical, as a measure of substitution therapy and in no way opposed to simultaneous homoeopathic prescribing.
Allan D. Sutherland was born in Northfield, Vermont in 1897, delivered by the local homeopathic physician. The son of a Canadian Episcopalian minister, his father had arrived there to lead the local parish five years earlier and met his mother, who was the daughter of the president of the University of Norwich. Four years after Allan’s birth, ministerial work lead the family first to North Carolina and then to Connecticut a few years afterward.
Starting in 1920, Sutherland began his premedical studies and a year later, he began his medical education at Hahnemann Medical School in Philadelphia.
Sutherland graduated in 1925 and went on to intern at both Children’s Homeopathic Hospital and St. Luke’s Homeopathic Hospital. He then was appointed the chief resident at Children’s. With the conclusion of his residency and 2 years of clinical experience under his belt, Sutherland opened his own practice in Philadelphia while retaining a position at Children’s in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.
In 1928, Sutherland decided to set up practice in Brattleboro.